Closed vehicle



March 22,' 1927. l www W. H. EMOND.

CLOSED VEHI CLE Filed July 2. 1925 @6% @wif/W7? Wy @fm Patented Mar. 2.2,` v1927.v l

OFI-'ical WILLIIAIM H. EMON'D, 0F SYBACUSE, NEW YORK.

CLOSED VEHICLE.

lApplication inea .my 2, mais.A saranno. 41,076.

VThis invention relates to vehicles, more particularly automotive vehicles, and the object is to provide a vehicle body o f the closed type wherein the drivers' seat 1s with-1n a -glazed enclosure which w1llprovide an unobstructed vision for the driver.

In the conventional closed automobile body the top is supported by -corner posts against which fits the wind-shield frame in front 1o land 'adjacent to which lie the pillars of the forward doors. These parts collectively present a considerable obstruction to the vision of the driver and may-completely blot out from the Viewr a vehicle or a pedestrian and l5 for this reason they constitute a` well recognized source of danger. In some constructions the bulkiness of these partsl has been less than in others but the disadvantages ,have merely been somewhat reduced in degree..

In accordance with the present invention the size of these parts is not merely reduced but the construction is V essentially changed in kind by the provision of a suitable construction whereby a corner assembly is provided having a maximum dimension' not substantially greater than theinterpupillary distance between the eyes. By this arrangement, as will appearmore'clearly hereafter, essentially no obstruction. whatever is presented to the clear vision of objects at whatever distance. of my invention I herein-show one practical construction whereby the desired results may be realized.

Inpthe accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle body of the closed type with the forward door' ajar;

Fig. 2 is an lenlarged section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 showing the door closed; and Figs 3 and 4 are diagrams to be referred to. j Referring to' Fig. 1 of the drawings, I

have there shown a vehicle having a lower body provided with a forward door having.

a door jamb adjacent the cowl. Cooperating with this jamb (beinghinged thereto in .the

example illustrated) is a lower door sectwion 5 which may be of any suitable or convenient construction, conveniently ofthe so-called composite construction and consisting of a wooden frame and metal panels. Rising line to the top I frame, of much As an example.

5 extending to the belt line of the body and from the ycowl adjacent the jamb and, if dey S11-able, as thereof, is a fixed a continuation corner post 7 supporting the top, Vwhich post. 1s` preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 2 of steel tubing. As shown in Fig. 1, this post may be offset rearwardly to overhaner 60.

Asomewhat the lower door 'section 5. Instead of continuing the 'door' pillar Afrom the belt preferablyutilize the construction shown wherein a light metallic window frame 9 is carried by the door section and permanently projects between the sldes and between the'inner and outer faces of the door, the usual sliding glazin 11 being mounted in this frame 9. It wil be understood that the glazing in its lowered position is'berthed in the lower door body 5 fromwhich it is raised, to slide into the frame, y7. The forward upright of this smaller size than the customary door pillar, being, as seen in Fig. 1, '15 of greatly reduced thickness as comparedP with the thickness of the door body from which it rises and of slight width fore andy aft, being essentially a guide for the edge of the glazing with somev small additional width to provide for its structural incorporation in the door, may close against the ofset post 7 as-illustrated in Fig. 2 and pref-I erably the latter is .rabbeted to receive the same as shown. In Fig. 2 a suitable packing or bumper ,strip 10 is shown. The construe tion of this door is more fully described` and claimed in my Patent No. 1,592,657; Jnly 13, 1926. A wind-shield 13 or forward vlazing is provided which may be received Vin the frame 15, seating against a packing 16 carried by the post 7 and conveniently received in a rabbet in the post, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The two rabbets shown define an inwardly extending transverseweb stiifeninjlg; the post windflange direc- I closes,

a back support for the edges of the shield, from which web projects a. sti'fi'ening the post in the fore and aft tion and against which the door frame the edge of the windshield and the frame l lying in closely spaced relation at opposite sides of said web. y

The construction illustrated' is an example of a practical construction which the corner assembly,'herein consisting of the post 7the frame 9 and the frame 15, which y in the normal construction obstruct-s the permits drivers vision, to be organized within a circle having a diameter notI substantially greater, conveniently somewhat less, than the interpupillary distance between'the eyes. To permit convenient .numerical illustra. tions we may for the urposes of the present description assume tiiis distance to' be 2% inches, a convenient approximate figure, and that dimensin is marked on Fig. 2. An obstruction of no greater width than this transversel that is, transversely to the direction Of-sigt, provides results radically diieren't from any o f greater dimensions, as will be more fully apparent from the following discussion.

In Fig. v3/I have illustrated diagrammatically the position of the eyes R and L and an obstruction O of the same width as the distance between the -e es. This obstruction 2 0 intercepts in the -iel of vision of the right eye R the area hatched with linesv sloping downwardly from' right to left and subtended b the line B-D. In the, field" of vision of t e left eye L is interceptedthe area hatched with the lines slopingv downwardly romleft to right and subten ed by the line A-C. The vision of both eyes is obstructed in the area subtended by the lineyBC and since .the lines'B-R .and C-L are parallel, this zone or area can have no greater width than thewidth' between the.eyes at whatever l distance forward (to the left in the figure) from the obstruction O. In Fig. 4 is similarly illustrated an obstruction of greater width than thefdistance between the eyes. The right eye R cannot see the area Asubtended by the line'F-H, nor the left eye the area subtended by the .line E-G, and the area which canbe semi-lg' 40 eye is subtended b the line F However, the lines F and G-L diverge and the area which cannot-be seen increases in width as the obstruction O.is receded from. Thus, .if anob'struction is 2 feet in front of the eyes, a common distance for the nearer corner' postin a closed vehicle, and the obl .struction'O is 5% ,inches across, a common vpresent day dimension, it will blot out en- 50 tirely from the vision at Va point 100 feet in iront of the vehicle an area of about 11 feet in width.' For a vehicle going at the modcrate speed of twenty miles an hour the distance' oflOO feet will be traversed in a little 55". more than lthree seconds. On the other hand, inthe vconstruction shown' in Fig. 2 only S21/inches of the ieldfof vision is obneither "merge in ad indicated, are in inches.

across. The figures given, unless otherwise ft 2% 116% 211l 100 yds 2% 229 417'.

i The width of 21/2 inches obstructed. by the corner post, which isa dimension which does not Var whatever the distance looked at, is

so smal in itself as to be negligible. In fact, the eyes do not see such a small stripe cut outfrom a beyond the obstruction soon accustom themselves to the corner post in the field of vision which appears transparent or is entil-ely ignored. For practical purposes of vision Ait Yis as if' non-existent. Practical demonstration has shown that objects at some distance, such as 'a motor car, lare seen completely as are also objects near at hand. Thus, every number of a registration plate on a nearby car. can -be read`with facility although it lsfdirectlyin line with tthe corner posti l If the corner assembly is made, as has' Fig.' 4, or parallel lines, as in the case where in width to that disthe obstruction is equal tance as illustrated'iin Fig. 3, and will t er to nothing at a relatively short distance orward of thecorner. In, other words, the

fields of vision of the" two eyes at opposite sides of the bstruction converge to meet -or yance ofthe same.

I have described in detail one suitable construction 'whereb the advantages obtained by my inventionmay be practically realized andconstituting, as I am now advised, the best mode of applying the principle. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to any particu- `lar mechanical. arrangement of parts,

instead of diverging lines, as

the

distant object and focusing princi les thereof, .whichx I claim as new and w ich I desire 'to secure by Letters Patent, being inherent-'in constructions coming within the scope of the appended claims. l

1. A vghicle 'of the loses type having fopsupportingcorner posts, a windshield, fitting 4a maximum opaque area which in transverse' cowl, va door Vcomprising a lower section l dimension is not greater than the normal in which' closes said opening in the lower body' terpupillary distance between the eyes. section and which also provides a berth for 2. `A vehicle of the closed type having top a sliding glazing and alsocomprising an upsupportingcorner posts, a windshield fitting per section providing a window frame to reagainst said posts, a door aving an uppero ceive the glazing in raised position, the forl p ortion comprising a window frame also t- .ward'upri t of said upper section being of ting against one of said posts, ithe post and lmarkedly reduced thickness as compared the ladjacent portions of the windshield and with the lower body section from which it wk'the window frame lwhich fit against said 'rises and of slight: width fore and aft wherepost together having a maximum opaque by it is essentially only a guide for the slidarea which-in transverse dimensionfis not ing glazing,- a top-supporting corner post -greater than the norma-l interpupillary disrising adjacent the cowl to mate 'with said .ta-nce between the eyes. 1 upright and having a fiange projecting bel5 3. vehicle of the closed type having an hind the same against'which it closes, and a enclosed drivers seat, the enclosureincludwind-shield having its edge inset `in the ing a glazed front and sides forward of said .corner post, the juxtaposed opaque parts at `seat including top-supporting posts and a the corner adjacent the cowl having collecdoor giving access to' the seat, the door havf tively a maximum apparent transverse di 2.04 ing an upper portionJ comprising a fixed mension when viewed from the drivers seat `window frame'` fitting against `one of said vnot greater than the normal interpupillary 85 posts, vopaque portions of then said front and.n distance 'between the eyes. a sides' of the vehicle forward of said drivers 7. Avehicle of the closed type having topseat and including the said ost with the adsupporting cornerI posts, a glazed front ex- 25 jacent portion of the door Ibeing segregated tending between the, posts, a door having an in zones which have a maximum opaque upper portion comprising a window also ity area which in transverse dimension is not ting against onefof the posts, lthe post and greater than the normal interpupillary disadj cent contacting portions of the window tance between the eyes. andi front' together having a "maximum t 3" 4. An autmotive vehicle of the closed oqaque area which in transverse dimension is -type having a lower body section provided less thanthe normal interpupillary distance with a forward door opening adjacent the between the eyes whereby the fields of vision cowl, rward pillars rising from the 'cowl of the separate eyes at o osite sides of thel and lo set rearwardly from the line of the obstruction constituted said parts con- 35 jamb, a door in said lower body section f verge. i g 4 overhung by one lof said pillars, a window 8L A vehicle ofthe closed type com rising 100 frame carried by the door having a permav top-supporting corner posts arising a jacent nently projecting 1 upper portion. fitting the cowl, doors 'each having an upper por-- against said pillar, anda wind-shield fitted tion providinga framel for -a sliding win- 40 against said pillars, each pillar and the nad dow, the forward uprights of said `frames jacent lframe members, having'collectively a closin into cooperation with said posts, and 105 45 `5. An automotivevehiclev of the closed transverse webs providingabacksupport for I'maximum transverse dimension not greater a` win shield; said posts. having upsta'nding than the/normal-interpupillary distancefbe portions receiving the windshield between tween the eyes. vthem and, at theirear, inwardly extending,- type having`a lower body section provided the windshield,(said webs having inwardly ..110 with a forward door opening adjacent the thereon rearwardly extendingl flanges-the" cowl, forward pillars rising from the cowl uprights of the window-frames closing beandoffset rearwardly from theline of the hind said webs and against said Aflanges 5 0' jamb,v a door in said lower body .section which provide a stop therefor, the webs and overhung by one of said pillars, a window iianges providing strength for the posts bothll,5

frame carried by the door having a permal in the transverse and fore and-aft directions, nently projecting upper portion, said pillarI while, ,by vthe close. interspacing of the edges having a rabbet receiving said projecting oftheA windshield and of'sai'd uprights both ortion, the pillars also having forward rab in transverse and lfore and aft directions ets,l and a wind-shield received in said for-- when the doors are closed, said posts andadward rabbets, each pillai1 and. the adjajacent parts ofthe doors and windshield cent frame membershaying collectively a have Ximum opaque areaswhich'in transmaximum transverse dimension not gregter verse'niiimension are not greater than the -w than the normal interpupillary'distance benormal interpupillary. distance .between the ytween the eyes. eyes. i' An automotive vehicle of the f closed Iii/ testimony whereof, I have signedfmy tvpe having alow'er body section provided name to thisspecification. withma forward d'oor opening adjacent the vWILLIAM EMOND.

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